I gave my students an assignment each year on installing solar using my own house and family as the ‘clients’
I got updated quotes each year (Thanks, Kyle Kasawski!)
Each year, students would reliably find that it didn’t make financial sense
In 2017, one group explained that, if a solar power system would generate a cup of coffee per day of nerd value, it would have a 20% rate of return
Each year, students would reliably find that it didn’t make financial sense
In 2017, one group explained that, if a solar power system would generate a cup of coffee per day of nerd value, it would have a 20% rate of return
- Total system cost (installed) was $18,900 or $2.50 per watt
Rebate from Energy Efficiency Alberta covered 30%, or $5670
Our total cost (installed) was $13,230, or $1.62 per watt
Expected generation was 9000kWh in year 1, and we generated 7954kWh
Should expect 0.5% annual degredation, so a 25 year lifetime should yield about 210,000 kWh of electricity
Yes. We ended up at net zero almost exactly in year 1
We need to do a lot less laundry or we won’t be there again in year 2
No. Edmonton has great solar in the summer, but not much in the winter
Moving that much power from summer to winter would require millions of dollars worth of batteries and a lot more generation to offset battery losses.
Two main sources of savings: avoided transmission and delivery costs and sales back to the grid of excess power
Meter measures receipts (power sent to the grid) and deliveries (power purchases)
transmission and distribution costs are charged on power deliveries
power prices (same price all month long) paid on deliveries and rebated for sales
At current and expected future power prices and other variable charges, I’ll capture about a 0.5% rate of return
If microgeneration premia continue to be available, in addition to future energy and transmission prices, I’ll capture about a 3.5% rate of return
If microgeneration premia continue to be available, in addition to future energy and transmission prices, and you account for a cup of coffee per day in nerd value, I’ll capture about a 14.5% rate of return
No question they were correct - I’ve already had enough enjoyment out of it to eliminate any potential losses from the investment